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Friday, November 22, 2013

Filmi Fridays: O Ramji

As Ranveer Singh proceeds to earn eternal
hatred of Indian men by wrapping himself around Deepika Padukone in hundreds of
cinemas this week, we look at some of his illustrious predecessors. Who are the
most famous Rams of Bollywood?

Dilip Kumar was Ram. Dilip Kumar was also
Shyam. Actually, Dilip Kumar was Ram Aur
Shyam – the favourite Bollywood formula of twins growing up to be as
differently as chalk and cheese. As Ram, Yusuf-saab was the docile brother
whipped to a pulp by Pran while Shyam Rao was the flamboyant avatar where he
was about to give back a few of the lashes.

After the comic brilliance of Chupke Chupke and the action
extravaganza that was Sholay,
Dharmendra and Amitabh Bachchan came together as Ram Balram (respectively). This was Deewaar with a twist as Ram became a smuggler’s henchman and Balram
became a police officer – with none of the original intensity. Ram sang hit
songs with Balram (Ek rasta do rahee) in traditions of Jai-Veeru. He fought
with Balram in traditions of Vijay-Ravi. And then reunited with their mother in
traditions of Amar Akbar Anthony.

Rajesh Khanna was not only Ram but his
incarnation in Aaj Ka MLA Ram Avtar.
A satire on the Indian political system, Ram Avtar was a politician’s barber
who was made to stand in an election and who became the MLA despite all odds.
Rajesh Khanna was the bemused barber who was everyone’s favourite till he won
the election. Then, he became a corrupt bastard. Now, where have I heard this
story before?

Amitabh Bachchan was Dr Ramprasad Ghayal in Mrityudaata – the surgeon who could
only operate when he was stone drunk! In his comeback film produced by his own
company, Amitabh acted in one of his worst written roles of his career. And
just in case, we didn’t get the Ramayan connection, his wife (Dimple Kapadia)
was called Janaki and his brother (Arbaaz Khan) was called Bharat.

Following the footsteps of Dilip Kumar,
Dharmendra and Amitabh Bachchan, SRK also became Ram. Ram Jaane, to be exact.

As a foundling orphan child, he asked a
saintly soul what his name was. When he philosophically said, “Ram jaane” (God knows), he took that on
as his name. As he went on to become a small-time criminal, he started wearing
suits without shirts (ugh!), romancing Juhi Chawla and singing a ‘title song’
around his name (Kehte hain log mujhe Ram
Jaane…).

While Anil Kapoor was the bigger draw in the
Subhash Ghai blockbuster, Jackie Shroff was the opening name of Ram Lakhan – Inspector Ram Pratap
Singh. While Anil Kapoor pranced around singing the hit My name is Lakhan, Jackie also had a (lesser known) song – O Ramji, bada dukh dina tere Lakhan ne –
sung for him. And like to the original hero, he was the brave, virtuous one.

Aamir Khan was a Ram – Ram Shankar Nikumbh –
in his directorial debut, Taare Zameen
Par. As the Art teacher who had a special knack for understanding children
and their weaknesses – not to mention their strengths – he was an unusual
character with an unusual name. His first name did not feature too much in the
film as his colleagues and students called him by his surname.

Arguably, the funniest Ram in Hindi cinema is
Ram Prasad Sharma of Gol Maal. His father was also Dasrath Prasad Sharma, as he
never failed to remind us. He also had a brother called Laxman Prasad Sharma,
who fell in love with a girl whose name was (mythologically appropriate)
Urmila.

One second, he had a brother? Well yes, a
happy-go-lucky chap who went by his nickname Lucky.

Are you sure about the brother? Well, it is a
long story then…

Ram Prasad Sharma and Laxman Prasad Sharma
reappeared recently as Major Ram and Lucky (pronounced Luck-hey!) in Farah
Khan’s Main Hoon Na. Paying a tribute to the Hrishikesh Mukherjee original, the
director borrowed the classic names and gave them a modern twist.

Not all Rams of the titles are present in the
film.

Ram Teri Ganga Maili borrowed its title from
the plaintive cry of a saint who cried out to Ramakrishna Paramhans about the
Ganga that flowed by his ashram. The Ram in the title was not physically there
in the film but by naming the hero Naren (Rajeev Kapoor), the director ensured
a spiritual presence. Ramakrishna’s most famous disciple was Swami Vivekanand,
who birth name was Naren.

And the final name in the list is not a Ram.

In Andaz Apna Apna, Amar (Aamir Khan)
consoled Prem (Salman Khan) with a quart of rum and said it was the best
companion for a broken heart. “Gham ka saathi rum”, he said. Devout people
would say, “Gham ka saathi Ram” is also true!